Kaus admits that running against Boxer is a hopeless gambit, and the idea—which he says he got from his dermatologist—is just to register a protest against all the corrupt unions who brought you the 40-hour work week. And to get a bunch of attention!

But it's still weird, and wouldn't set a great precedent for the company. Nor does Kaus' candidacy in general. If you think, like the New York Times' Ross Douthat, that we need more "public intellectuals" who have accomplished literally nothing in their lives aside from writing and saying things entering the electoral arena, just picture Andrew Breitbart kissing babies. Because it's coming.